It was a reduced number of members that attended the third running of this event near Northampton. We set off from the Y-Pass Garage later than intended after some confusion regarding who was turning up, and headed off to Leicester Forest East Services through thick fog to meet Murray Jessop. From there it was a steady drive to the venue through gradually clearing skies. Upon arrival we erected the gazebo and had our normal large breakfast. The show continued in full swing with the static car displays, stalls, dragsters and various racing cars and bikes with the culmination of the day being the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast. A great day out with fellow members including Phil and Vicky on their first club outing, hope they enjoyed it.

SEPTEMBER 5TH 2015 ECCLESHALL SHOW

Five members attended this lovely little show which has the feel of a county show but in miniature. We arrived in dry weather but with a few mud splats due to the enormous amount of roadworks being undertaken near Eccleshall. There was plenty to see from a lovely array of classic cars and trucks, together with showjumping, acrobats and even exhibition ferrets! A show well worth attending and only a £2-00 donation to get in, well worth it

AUGUST 23RD 2015 LUPIN FARM

Well, what a brilliant Claymills turnout again for this local charity show. We had eighteen vehicles displayed together with another three members scattered around different parts of the field, twenty one vehicles all told. Everyone appeared to enjoy another great show despite the committee forgetting to bring the club gazebo and banners, note must try harder. The day ended a little prematurely after the heavens opened, but we didnít let a small detail like that spoil another great day.

JULY 22ND ALREWAS SHOW

Fourteen members set off to the Alrewas Show on a bright Saturday morning. On arrival we were guided to our allotted positions, a bit tight but we managed to squeeze in. The show itself has something for all the family, livestock, machinery, food stalls and an active show ring. Towards the end of the show the classic cars were judged and out of the six prizes awarded Claymills Classic Car Club Members worked home with three of them. So itís congratulations to John Cann, Morris Traveller (5th place) Phil and Sheila Bentley, Mercury Monterey (4th place) and Ian McLaughlin, Ford Escort Mexico (2nd place). Just goes to show what an excellent cross section of vehicles we have within the club.

JULY 5TH CARS IN THE PARK LICHFIELD

The usual meeting point at Barton heralded our start for our trip to Cars in the Park. We intended trying not to get snarled up in the traffic jam of last year and approached Lichfield from the direction of Kings Bromley. It worked, we sailed straight in and drove up to our club stand and organised the parking and erected the gazebo. It was really great to see so many club members attending, I think I counted eighteen in total we certainly outshone some of the other clubs that were exhibiting. The show itself has a bit for everyone is very well attended and is great for being right on the clubs doorstep. Take a look at the photos on the gallery pages youíll see what I mean. There was only one blip in the organisation as we had a torrential downpour in the afternoon for about half an hour or so and they closed the show early. This caused a tremendous traffic jam, which we avoided by staying put. A pint on the way home concluded a great day out.

JUNE 28TH STEAM ON RUTLAND WATER

Six intrepid members headed off on a wet and windy day to this new event to us at Rutland Water. After a steady drive and with the gazebo erected the rain started to ease off around 11-00am. There were lots of steamers to look at together with vintage fair organs and an autojumble to part with your cash. A barbecue was cooked in the afternoon, which John Cann through over himself whilst trying to view the passing Spitfire, before a gentle drive home via the Otter for a pint.

JUNE 21ST TRENTHAM CLASSIC CAR SHOW

A different meeting point of the Salt Box Cafe for a foray westward to Trentham. A relatively short journey to Trentham Park was followed by a rather circuitous route to our initial parking spot! A couple of cars didnít like this and ran their temperature gauges near the red. The organisers obviously didnít expect a club of such tremendous stature as Claymills because our initial parking spot was way too small. Our second spot was far better up on the hill, plenty of room for our marvellous vehicles and suitable for a club of our grandeur where we were able to lord it over everyone else. Personally I donít think they liked the look of us and wanted us out of the way!

The show itself followed its normal practice of eating, mooching, drinking and dozing. There was plenty to take in at this varied show and it was great to have some new members attending for the first time. Letís hope we havenít put them off.

JUNE 18TH MEMBERS MOTORS WITH AMERICAN SUPPER

Never have I googled BBC weather on the run up to this event so many times. We had visions of half a dozen members turning up all sitting round a packet of crisps and a sausage roll whilst it lashed it down outside. We shouldnít have felt so pessimistic as lo and behold after a stormy few days the weather held fine for our inaugural Members Motors Show with our American Supper.

Approximately 18 members cars were on show and voting forms were handed out and cars scrutinised, whilst eating some great food brought in by everyone who attended.

Rose did a great job manning the teapot and the committee did their best to keep the evening running smoothly. Thanks to everyone who helped clear up at the end of the evening, but most of all congratulations to Steven Woolley who was the Members Motors winner with his superb Ford Anglia.

MAY 25TH ROLESTON TRANSPORT FESTIVAL

With all the uncertainty over ticket allocation, we were glad to be able to attend this local event. We were stationed in a new part of the Croft for this year but all twelve cars attending were able to get in nicely. The club did its bit manning the gate for the organisers and again the weather held fine for this charity event.

MAY 16TH GLOSSOP CAR SHOW

Outside a cemetery in the early hours sounds more like an episode of the Munsters than the start of a car rally, but that was where we had arranged to meet prior to setting off to Glossop. There ensued a lovely drive through the Peak District to Manor Park, Glossop. The pitch we were directed to was tight and under some trees, it is a park after all, but there was just enough room for everyone to squeeze in and put up our new banners! There were plenty of classic and vintage vehicles to look at and the weather held fine if a little cold. A good event.

MAY 10TH MARCHES TRANSPORT FESTIVAL, LUDLOW

Nine intrepid members made an early start to attend this new event for us. After a longish drive the three separate groups of members arrived within a few minutes of each other. The setting was very majestic being inside the grounds of the splendid medieval Ludlow Castle and the transport festival was a part of a much larger spring food festival. We loaded ourselves up with pies, cheeses and artisan breads and walked around the lovely market town of Ludlow. There was a good selection of cars to look at and the prizes were even handed out by a real life celebrity, `Boycieí from Only Fools and Horses. Apart from our location being next to a noisy beer tent it was a great day out.

MAY 6TH CLUB NIGHT TALK FROM GUIDE DOGS FOR THE BLIND

We had an excellent talk from the above organisation regarding puppy walking and Peter McIlvenny from Carole Nash presented us with two banner flags for us to use at events.

There was lots of cake as well always good on club night as well!

MAY 3RD CATTON HALL TRANSPORT SHOW

Iím sure as people drew back the curtains on Sunday morning it was definitely a will we or wonít we day as the weather was pretty atrocious. Anyway five hardy club members turned up at the appointed meeting point and headed off to the show. To be fair by the time we got to the show the rain had stopped and we were able to put up the club gazebo without getting wet. Attendance was well down on normal but we still had a good time chatting, eating and drinking tea, indeed it even got rather hot in the afternoon!

APRIL 26TH DRIVE IT DAY, NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM

Well, what can I say our best ever club turnout. A few hardy souls breakfasted at the OK Diner before our usual meet at the Old Little Chef from where we headed off to the Arboretum. Pauline directed us to our position and we all manoeuvred around set up the banner and then it was business as usual. A grand total of 24 cars, I think, turned out and for some it was their first outing with the club. We had plenty of cake courtesy of Pauline and Judith and hopefully raised plenty of money in aid of a good cause. Thanks as always go to Tony and Pauline Blake for organising the whole event.

Go to the gallery page to view pictures of this and other past events.

APRIL 6TH BASS MUSEUM TRANSPORT FESTIVAL

The day after Middleton Hall fifteen members arrived at the Bass Museum in glorious sunshine to spend the day at the Transport Festival. Apart from the several hundred screaming kids and a fire engine that needed its bell removing, we had a good time. I even got to watch Punch and Judy!

APRIL 5TH MIDDLETON HALL

A fifteen strong contingent of Claymills members met up at Middleton Hall for our first proper run out of the season. We had good weather, bacon butties and Murray, one of our new members, attended with his good lady and much to our surprise, he even said heíd come out with us again!

MARCH 29TH COTSWOLD MOTOR MUSEUM

It was a very wet and windy day that saw five classics and two moderns meet at the old Little Chef to head off to the Cotswold Motor Museum at Bourton on the Water.

We duly arrived after a very wet journey and headed straight for the cafe. Suitably full we wandered around the small museum intrigued at the vehicles and automobilia on show. After a mooch around the village and another refreshment stop we headed for home.

MARCH 4TH CAROLE NASH ROADSHOW

Well what an evening to mark our first meeting in the new Education Centre. The Carole Nash Roadshow descended with Fuzz Townsend from Car SOS. We also welcomed lots of visitors who were keen to listen to Fuzz. Fuzz gave us an account of the working of his tv series and other activities and with a break for refreshments the evening flew by.

Our thanks go to Peter McIlvenny from Carole Nash and our Events Secretary Ian Roach for organising the evening for us, various committee members who manned the fort during the evening and finally Pauline Blake for her excellent cakes.

FEBRUARY 4TH FISH AND CHIP AND GROPE NIGHT

Our first event of 2015 appeared to be a great success. We had lots of `gropersí, some of whom took it very seriously and were determined their groping would reveal the correct answer, whilst others were happy to just have a quick feel and an x-rated guess. At the finish Patrick Ewing emerged victorious with some very accurate groping and took home the victors spoils, two bottles of wine.

After all that groping we had built up quite an appetite and were ready for our fish and chips. These were delivered slightly later than expected due to traffic congestion but were eagerly consumed by the assembled masses. Itís the quietest itís ever been at a club meet!